Bridging Heritage and Digital Literacy
Milton Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
Milton Public Library (MPL) proudly launched a ground-breaking initiative to enhance advocacy and awareness by hiring a Wikipedia in Residence for 2022-2023. This transformative role, funded by a Young Canada Works grant, aimed to bridge the gap between local history and global knowledge. One of the primary responsibilities of this position was to provide accurate, up-to-date, and thorough depictions of topics and notable figures within the Milton Wikipedia Category. The WIR meticulously curated and edited Wikipedia entries, focusing on Milton's rich heritage, community events, and notable figures, making this information accessible worldwide. The project fostered collaboration with local historians, educators, and community groups, enriching the library’s digital presence. This initiative preserved local history and highlighted MPL's commitment to innovation and education. The success of this project underscores the power of libraries in fostering informed, connected, and engaged communities.
Challenge/Opportunity
The Milton Public Library (MPL) identified a dual challenge and opportunity in preserving local history and enhancing digital literacy. The community's rich heritage was underrepresented online, limiting global awareness and engagement. Concurrently, there was a need to equip citizens, especially youth and seniors, with skills to navigate and contribute to the digital world. This role aimed to bridge the knowledge gap by curating and editing Wikipedia entries on Milton's history while also conducting workshops to teach residents how to contribute to Wikipedia. The initiative not only ensured the preservation and global dissemination of Milton's heritage but also promoted digital literacy and community engagement, highlighting MPL's role as a catalyst for education and innovation in the digital age. This project demonstrated the library's commitment to leveraging digital platforms for advocacy and awareness.
Key Elements of Innovation
- Global Accessibility: Utilized the globally recognized Wikipedia platform to make local history accessible to a worldwide audience, thereby bridging the gap between local and global knowledge.
- Community Involvement: Fostered community involvement through interactive workshops where participants learned to create and edit Wikipedia entries, enhancing digital literacy across all age groups.
- Collaborative Efforts: Encouraged collaboration with local historians, educators, and community groups, integrating diverse perspectives into the digital narrative.
- Technological Integration: Leveraged technology to preserve and promote Milton's heritage, ensuring its longevity in the digital age.
Through this initiative, MPL has become an official member of Wikimedia Canada, maintaining communications with key Wikimedia figures like Vice-Chair Michael David Miller and Executive Director Louis Germaine. The WIR program was also presented at the North America WikiConference in Toronto.
Achieved Outcomes
The Milton Public Library's Wikipedia in Residence initiative achieved significant outcomes in advocacy and awareness:
- Enhanced Wikipedia Entries: Created and enhanced numerous Wikipedia entries, significantly increasing the global visibility of Milton's rich heritage, notable figures, and community events.
- Digital Literacy Engagement: Successfully engaged over 200 community members in digital literacy workshops, equipping them with the skills to contribute to Wikipedia and other digital platforms, fostering a sense of ownership and pride in local history.
- Strengthened Community Bonds: Collaborations with local historians and community groups enriched the content, ensured accuracy, and strengthened community bonds.
- Leadership in Innovation: Positioned MPL as a leader in digital innovation and community engagement within the library sector.
